Drivers warned to lock up or be fined

Pilbara police are reminding motorists they are committing an offence by leaving their vehicles unlocked.

The warning comes after four cars were stolen over a 24-hour period in Newman this month.

All of the vehicles had keys left in the ignition or nearby.

The issue of leaving cars unlocked with keys in the ignition is not isolated to Newman, with similar instances occurring in other Pilbara towns including South Hedland and Karratha.

The officer in charge at Newman police station, Shane Sadler, says under the road traffic code it is an offence to leave a vehicle unsecured and the penalty is $50.

"Time, place, circumstance, but certainly look at the circumstances of each one involved but if we have found that the person had been irresponsible and their actions led to the vehicle being stolen because they couldn't or wouldn't secure it, we would certainly look at issuing infringement notices," he said.